Light It Up, Baby

Last night I ventured down to beautiful Sydney Harbour, to take in the sights of the Vivid Festival (as I mentioned here). I have to say that I was slightly disappointed. After seeing the amazing pictures of the displays from last year, particularly those on the Opera House, I was expecting something really spectacularly beautiful. I was also not in the best of moods and I dislike large crowds of people. So I didn’t take as many photos as I would have liked, but here are my favourites. I’ve got another week before the show finishes, so I might brave it again before it’s over!

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Um. WOW.
My dad’s a photographer, and he’s told me that night photography is a little more complicated than if you have the sun out (thousand odd factors to take into account because you have to get your lighting right, you can’t just point and shoot, blah blah black sheep), but these are really, really good.

Hahaha, thanks! I have to say I don’t really have the technical stuff down pat. I just remember a couple of things that I learnt and keep doing them over and over and over again. I think I need to learn some new stuff!

Loved your photos! I keep hearing different things about this year’s Vivid, people are saying it’s bigger than last year’s, and I was pretty impressed last year by it all! I was going to go down this weekend but it’s been raining and my friends couldn’t get organised, so I think I’m heading down next weekend now instead. I don’t think I realised you lived so close to the city? Or maybe I did, I forget hahaha. But yay, another local! 😀

Well I didn’t make it there last year, so I was very excited for this year. But I really didn’t like it all that much – I was expecting the Opera House to be covered in beautiful colours, but it was just a mostly black & white display, with a giant girl sitting on it every now and then. Plus people in huge crowds REALLY irritate me – maybe that’s why I didn’t go last year…
I believe that we actually live in the same locality actually…Central Coast? Didn’t mention it earlier, as I didn’t want to seem like a stalker!

Ohhh, that does sound a bit disappointing with the Opera House. Last year it was covered in colours, it was made out to be like a fish tank with fish swimming through it, and I think it alternated with other colour shows. Maybe they tried too hard to be bigger this year, rather than better. I’ll be curious to see. I still have photos from last year’s, so maybe I’ll take more and compare them in a blog or something.
And wow, how did you know I live on the coast? Or did I mention it somewhere? But don’t worry, lots of people stalk me around here 😛 Hahaha, I can’t go anywhere without knowing people, it’s just the way the coast is I think. So what part of the coast do you live in? I’m down in Gosford, right on the waterfront, though I work up Wyong way…I wonder if we’ve met each other or walked past each other before. Probably have haha 😛

Well I’ll let you be the judge of the Opera House. Maybe I set my expectations too high? You should definitely compare the years in a blog – I’d be very interested to see your thoughts.
You have mentioned a couple of times in different blogs that you live on the coast. I think it’s so funny that out of all of the blogs that we both could have followed, we ended up following people from the coast. It’s such a small world.
I live in Woy Woy, but work in the city so I spend most of my time there. The only time I ever leave the Peninsula is to go to Erina Fair – which isn’t that often actually, or to visit my mum who lives in Davistown. But there is a chance that we have crossed paths at some stage! And I agree with you about the Coast – everyone knows everyone here!

Hahaha, though it sounds like I might end up setting my expectations too high too. I’ll definitely let you know my thoughts at any rate. Hope this weather cheers up by next weekend, I can hear it raining again.
I thought I might have mentioned it, I tend to say things and forget I’ve said them hahaha. It is kind of funny to have followed another coastie in the wide world of blogs. I follow people from all over the world, and a few other Aussies though mostly from Sydney or other cities like Melbourne and Rad-elaide, but I think you’re the first coastie!
Ahhh, I have been in Woy Woy a fair bit, have a few friends that live that way. I also used to work at Coles at West Gosford, for about 6 years up until a year ago, so chances are you’ve seen me there at least once hahaha. I do like the Peninsula actually. Definitely could never move to the north side of the coast! If I leave this part it’s probably to move closer to the city or just somewhere completely different.
Ahh, small world. 😛

Hello! Apparently there is track work on this weekend for the trains. So if you were thinking of taking that particular mode of transport to the city this weekend, you may want to make alternate plans. Also, I would double check that information, as I am not always the most reliable source with…stuff.

Oh I only just realised you replied to me again on this thread…oops. Thanks for the heads up about trackwork…if I do end up going I half wonder if I might just drive…if only parking wasn’t such a pain in the backside down there. Sigh. I don’t even know for sure if I’m going now – I have birthdays and all sorts of other things going on this weekend…and somehow I need to try and NOT spend too much money. Yeesh. At least the weather is looking likely to be nice(r). 😛

Hey no worries. I was going to try and go again this weekend, but decided not to when I realised there were no trains – it’s so ridiculous how they always do trackwork on the long weekends. The bus takes forever and you’re right about the parking! And I hear you about the money situation – I’m going out to lunch AND dinner today, so there will be very little money for the weekend (except for coffees of course). I think I might try and get out and take some photos this weekend. Fingers crossed the weather stays nice!

Yeah I hate those cityrail buses, so annoying haha. But a friend has decided to make his birthday thing a trip to see vivid…so bussing it I shall. We’re going down tomorrow night now, heading to Hart’s Pub first for dinner and drinks (have you ever been there? I freaking love that pub!).
Hope the weather stays nice for both of us, and that you can get some good photos! 🙂

Great photos! I went to the opening night of Vivid festival to see all the pretty lights, but I am no photographer so didn’t even try to take a shot. Love the big beam of light hitting the Opera House.

Thanks! I think that was my favourite photo – I thought it looked very…ethereal?? I didn’t look at many of the other little light displays as I was preoccupied with trying to move through the crowd, so I think I might head back there this weekend to look at things properly.